Overpackaging

Carton of breakfast cereal: designed intentionally with an inefficient shape, adding to packaging waste
Bottle of 300 small aspirin tablets is correctly labeled but the contents fill less than a quarter of the bottle. Three quarters of the bottle is wasted. A much smaller bottle would be adequate.

Overpackaging is the use of excess packaging. The Institute of Packaging Professionals defines overpackaging as “a condition where the methods and materials used to package an item exceed the requirements for adequate containment, protection, transport, and sale”[1]

Overpackaging is an opportunity for source reduction, reducing waste before it is generated by proper package design and practice. Elimination of excess packaging is at the lead of the Reduce, reuse, recycle hierarchy. Use of minimized packaging is key to having sustainable packaging. Examples of overpackaging can be found in many areas; from e-commerce to retail food packaging.[2]

Some examples of overpackaging are obvious while others are more of a judgement call. For example, luxury packaging frequently uses more packaging than the minimum requirements. Brand managers believe that premium packaging is needed to communicate the extra value the contents. Gift wrapping can also involve excess packaging but traditions and personal choices allow people to continue to use it. Decorative boxes are an art form which clearly exceed minimum functional requirements.

  1. ^ Soroka, W. Illustrated Glossary of Packaging Terminology (Second ed.). Institute of Packaging Professionals.
  2. ^ Payne (31 October 2017). "Over-Packaging". PackCon: 22. Retrieved January 5, 2022.